Win over Sharks sweet music to Eagles

NEW Norfolk can now claim the full set after taking the remaining scalp in the SFL by downing Dodges Ferry at Shark Park yesterday.
To underline their competition dominance, the Eagles have beaten the other 10 SFL clubs by an average of 152 points.
Yesterday's 51-point win, 17.19 (121) to 10.10 (70), was its smallest victory margin this year.
And to further rub the Sharks' face into the mud, the Eagles sang their team song with gusto out on the ground.
New Norfolk coach Anthony McConnon was full of praise for his side after consecutive wins over its nearest rivals, Lindisfarne and now Dodges.
``The last two games have been real hard games, the sides have thrown it at us early in games,'' McConnon said.
``To come away with a 60-odd point win last week and a 51-point win this week, I'm rapt. We could have got complacent, we could have quite easily slipped back. Now we start to set up for the way we want to play at the end of the year.''
Yesterday's win was all the more impressive with five starters missing, including Adrian Burdon, Shane Bonnitcha and Zac Clayton.
The Eagles' bigger, stronger bodies were important in the wet, and New Norfolk was extremely disciplined in getting at the foot of packs to clean up many loose balls.
In his 150th senior game for the Eagles, Roger Belcher vied with fellow onballer Jason Britten for best-on-ground honours.
While defeated yesterday, Sharks' coach Danny Ling was happy with his side's efforts, especially early when the home side wasted many scoring opportunities.
``We could have had a three or four goal lead at quarter time,'' Ling said.
``But the effort of the boys to get in and have a go and really fight the game out was great. And really there was only 20 minutes in the second quarter where Belcher got away that hurt us.
``Other than that I didn't think there was a whole lot in it.''
Despite New Norfolk's impressive start to the season, Ling said yesterday's opponents were not unbeatable.
``Obviously they are going to be very hard to beat, but on any given day who knows?'' he said.


Last Modified on 15/06/2009 09:34
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